House of Commons Hansard #137 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was national.
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, as I said, we have all heard these media reports on allegations about China funding certain candidates in the federal election.
I can confirm that none of the experts or officials from our intelligence services shared anything with me about interference where Canadian candidates may have received money directly or indirectly from China.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, whether the Prime Minister says that he does not know or that he is getting his information about the allegations from the media, it is not reassuring either way.
This Prime Minister who wants to act tough, who jumps ahead of the Chinese president without even bothering to rally allies around him, could he tell us whether, when it comes to interference, trade, containment of China, he should make allies first instead of basing domestic policy on foreign policy gamesmanship?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, Canada has been working with its allies for years on countering foreign interference, including Chinese interference, in our cybersecurity systems, in our media, toward our population.
We are working very closely with our allies in the United States, in England and elsewhere to counter that influence, and we will continue to work with our allies to stand up for the values and principles all Canadians hold dear.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, Conservative premiers are trying to privatize health care across the country. Doug Ford is setting up a for-pay virtual pediatric hospital, so parents have to pay for access to care. Danielle Smith is telling people that they have to fundraise to pay for their own operations.
When will the Prime Minister get serious and stop the privatization going on across our country so people can get the care they need without having to pay for it?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, it is interesting because some days from the opposition we get “Why aren't you sending money to the premiers to solve the health care problems?” Other days we get, like this one, “Be careful; don't send money to the premiers because they are trying to privatize health care.”
Regardless of what the opposition members say, we are going to continue to do the work of making sure Canadians get reliable results and outcomes from their health care systems across the country. That means standing up for the Canada Health Act, but also ensuring that any work we do with the provinces delivers concretely in line with the Canada Health Act.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, that means stopping the privatization that is happening across the country. That is the question.
The health care system is crumbling across the country, including in Quebec. The Montreal Children's Hospital is at 175% occupancy. This means that children are not getting the care they need.
Our children deserve better. When will the Prime Minister take action to save our health care system, both in Quebec and across the country?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we were there with billions and billions of dollars. An additional $72 billion was invested in the past few years during the pandemic to help the provinces improve the health care system, and we will continue to be there with billions more to help them with the health care system.
However, we must ensure that this money is tied to improvements and that there are better services and better access to health care for Quebec and Canadian families. That is why we are working with the provinces. We want to deliver real results for children, for families and for everyone.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, I asked the Prime Minister some very specific questions today about whether he was informed of allegations that Beijing interfered in any of our elections, and he refused to answer, so I will give him a sixth try.
The question is not whether he knows of the candidate who received money. It is not whether there is a committee somewhere that said the election turned out as it should. The question is, was he, at any time prior to the recent media reports, informed by his officials of interference by Beijing in our elections, yes or no?
Marco Mendicino LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, my Conservative colleagues can be assured that Canadians know the elections in 2019 and 2021 were free and fair. We know that because we had two independent panels that looked at allegations of foreign interference and confirmed as much. More importantly, we are putting in place the tools necessary to protect all of our democratic institutions so that Canadians can have their voices reflected and heard in this chamber.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the RCMP wrote a letter to a parliamentary committee confirming that it is investigating foreign interference. It said in particular that this interference includes in “democratic processes”. The Constitution defines democratic rights as voting, which is about elections. The RCMP put that in writing. CSIS officials testified that there was foreign interference that included in “elections and ridings”.
Would CSIS and the RCMP have made these comments publicly without informing the Prime Minister first?
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalMinister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister has said very clearly, and as my colleague, the Minister of Public Safety, has repeated, our government put in place an independent process of experts chaired by the Clerk of the Privy Council, something the previous Conservative government had not thought important enough to do. That group of experts chaired by the Clerk of the Privy Council, which included the heads of our security and intelligence agencies, was given the important responsibility of ensuring that Canadian elections were free and democratic. The good news, which I know will not impress the Leader of the Opposition, is that it confirmed both elections were exactly that.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, that was exactly not the question. The question was not whether a committee confirmed the validity of the overall election result. The question was not whether the Prime Minister was aware of an individual candidate getting money from another country. The question was whether he was briefed by police, intelligence or public servants on any interference by Beijing in any of our elections.
Would the Prime Minister please stand up and speak for himself and say yes or no?
Marco Mendicino LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's concern, and that is why we had two independent panels look at, with great forensic detail, allegations of foreign interference. This review was carried out by non-partisan professional public servants so that we could all be sure our elections were free and fair, and that is precisely what they confirmed. Now our government continues to be vigilant against all forms of foreign interference by giving law enforcement and national security partners the tools they need to do so.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has the tools he needs to stand up and answer the question. He would know if his officials, the police or intelligence bodies briefed him on any foreign interference in elections. That is the specific question I have now asked seven times. At first, the Prime Minister refused to give a proper answer, and now he is refusing to even take to his feet and face the question.
I will ask one last time. Was he ever briefed on interference by foreign actors in our elections, yes or no?
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalMinister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we obviously share the concern of all members of the House about the importance of protecting Canadian democracy from any foreign interference, and we know that authoritarian regimes around the world have attacked other western democracies for many reasons and for many years.
That is why we thought it was important to take all steps necessary to protect our democratic institutions. As the Leader of the Opposition will know, we set up the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, something the previous Conservative government did not do, and they have access to that confidential information.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, the holiday season is fast approaching, but Canadians are not really in the mood for a celebration. Inflation is stretching families thin, food banks are overwhelmed and the profile of those seeking help is changing. Some people used to donate food, but now they are the ones coming to get it. Even people with good jobs are asking for help.
Families have a simple wish list for 2023. Can the Liberals guarantee that they will not raise taxes?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin my answers today with some good news for Canadian families. This week, on Thursday, December 1, Canadians will be able to start applying for the Canada dental benefit. This means that parents of children under the age of 12 will be able to claim $650 for dental visits. This is good news for Canadians and I hope everyone will use this program.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, I agree that kids should get the treatment they need, but even more important than dental care, they need to be able to eat. Some 30% of food bank users are children. Kids are going hungry and they are going to school on an empty stomach.
I remind the House that the basic needs of a child include food, water, a roof over their head and access to medicine when they are ill. Can the government guarantee that it will not raise taxes?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I am a little surprised by the comments of the member opposite, because I think he voted against dental care for Canadian families. It is important to be honest with Canadians and make sure they know who voted for children's dental care, a necessary and fair program, and who voted against it.
I want to take this opportunity to point out that this great program, which begins on Thursday, is a plan that the Conservatives voted against.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government wanted to add China to the trans-Pacific partnership. It wanted to negotiate a free trade agreement with China. It seems to be ignoring the advice of its very own security services. What kind of credibility do this government and this Prime Minister have if that is their policy on China, which may very well want to keep doing these things? The government is hiding the facts from its very own people.
At the very least, will it tell us whether one of these 11 MPs received funds and was elected?
Marco Mendicino LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, as the government has said, we too are concerned about the threat of foreign interference. That is exactly why we created two committees that operate independently. Both committees found that the 2019 and 2021 federal election results were free and fair.
Going forward, we will continue to invest in making sure we have all the tools we need to protect Canadians' interests.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, a study by the AQDR and the Observatoire québécois des inégalités shows that half of seniors do not have the income necessary to live in dignity, and we are not just talking about seniors aged 75 and over. These numbers do not even take into account the record inflation that is currently affecting the cost of groceries and housing.
Unlike the government, inflation does not discriminate against seniors based on their age. We have a study here that shows that half of seniors do not have a livable income. What more will it take for this government to increase the old age security pension for all seniors aged 65 and up?
Kamal Khera LiberalMinister of Seniors
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the challenges that seniors are facing, and our government has been there for them.
We are delivering for them by doubling the GST credit, which is going to help 11 million people. That is why we are providing dental and rental support. This summer, we permanently increased old age security for seniors aged 75 and over. That is $800 more for full pensioners. That is why we increased the guaranteed income supplement, which is helping over 900,000 seniors and has lifted 45,000 seniors out of poverty.
On this side of the House, we are going to continue to deliver for seniors.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is not what I am talking about. The Liberals gave seniors aged 75 and up a $500 election cheque, but they gave nothing to seniors aged 65 to 74. They are increasing OAS by 10% for seniors aged 75 and up, but they are not giving seniors aged 65 to 74 a penny more. That is the discrimination that I am talking about. Enough is enough.
Half of seniors are living in situations of insecurity. The government knows it. The government could increase OAS by $110 a month for all seniors starting at age 65, as we have been proposing for years. However, the government chooses to do nothing.
Why?
Kamal Khera LiberalMinister of Seniors
Mr. Speaker, since 2015, our government has been there to support seniors. This summer, we delivered on our promise to increase old age security by 10% for those 75 and older, strengthening support for Canadian seniors. On this side of the House, we increased the guaranteed income supplement, which has helped over 900,000 single seniors and lifted over 45,000 seniors out of poverty. That is why we doubled the GST credit. That is going to help 11 million Canadians.
On this side of the House, we are going to continue to make sure we support all Canadians, including seniors.